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March 19, 2008

Herald: Sox Consider Japan Trip Boycott

The headline is a bit alarmist. There is no way MLB doesn't resolve this in time.

Rob Bradford, Herald:

According to multiple clubhouse sources, the Red Sox will be holding a players-only meeting later this morning concerning the issue regarding the coaches potentially not being paid the $40,000 allocated the players.

The sources indicated that the players will be issuing a mandate to Major League Baseball that if the coaches aren't paid, then the team will not be getting on the plane later today for Japan.

According to one player, the agreement originally approved by the players included paying the $40,000 to the coaches.

The Red Sox will have to declare a 28-man roster from their overall group of 30 before the start of the first regular season game March 25, including three inactives for the two games. The same three will be inactive for both games. It will be from that pool of 28 that the eventual 25-man roster will be set. For the two games against the Athletics, the three inactives should include Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz, who will start the two exhibition games March 22-23.

The Red Sox will use a 9-man bullpen in Japan, which will be trimmed to seven for the start of the official regular season April 1.

5 comments:

If MLB agreed to pay the coaches, then pulled back -- well, I wonder what those idiots cannot fuck up.

Extra Bases: "Francona said he's been on the phone trying to reach Major League Baseball officials the past two days and has received no answers. ... The Sox manager, who had told his coaches they would be paid for the Japan jaunt (players will receive a stipend), was told by members of the Oakland coaching staff that they were not being paid. Francona had thought it was unusual that one team would be paid and the other not. So after he checked into it and found he and his coaches were getting nothing."

How disgusting is it that Francona has to show a security official immediately during a game that he is wearing a uniform top, but MLB can put off accepting his call so that they don't have to deal with a legitimate concern of his?

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And why is it Francona's job to contact MLB? Shouldn't Theo or one of the owners be making that phone call?

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I absolutely love the fact the players are going through this. Not only because it fosters the "team" sentiment that has been expressed, but moreso because it is just the right thing to do.

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If you figure 6 coaches per team at 40k each, it's $480,000 in the grand scheme of a billion dollar business. That is not enough to cause the possible public relations embarrassment that is looming.

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If the coaches do not get paid for this trip then expect this to be the final trip to Japan for MLB because I do not believe the players association will agree to do these trips in the future.

Okay, why is Lowell saying that they'll also boycott the ST game against the Blue Jays today, too? How far would they go, boycott the season? (Not that I'm against what they're doing, but why is another unrelated game in question?)

Anyway, how pissed would you be if you spent the 5,000 bucks for the Japan vacation and ticket package if the team doesn't even go? Man, that would stink.

A the very least, I'm sure Henry could give the coaches their money due out of his pocket, get the team over there, and sort it out with MLB later.

I wonder how many fans in the U.S. would be upset if everyone boycotted the trip and didn't have to fly halfway around the world and get jetlagged for the start of the season. I want baseball to start as much as the next guy, but I wouldn't shed a tear.

I agree---I LOVE this; the players are 100% in the right (based on what has been reported); it will almost certainly be resolved, and the effort can only make the team stronger.

The Sox will probably win more games in April if they DON'T go to Japan, even if it means two forfeits. And how's this for ironic: while the US is fully willing to ignore China's outrageous conduct and help it stage "1936 Olympics: The Sequel," The Red Sox will be boycotting JAPAN!

I can just imagine Francona being put on hold trying to get through to a MLB official. Slow jazz playing in his year, followed by someone with an Indian accent saying "This is MLB customer service representative Jason speaking. How may I help you?" "This is Terry Francona of the boston red sox. I was hoping to speak with someone in charge" "Please hold" More slow jazz. Francona breaks out some ice cream and gets comfortable...